Vacuum chest bottle stoppering apparatus



Feb. 27, 1962 R. v. D. STRONG ETAL 3,022,619

VACUUM CHEST BOTTLE STOPERING APPARATUS Filed sept. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INV EN TORS ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1962 R. v. D. STRONG ET AL 3,022,619

VACUUM CHEST BOTTLE sToPPERING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G. 3 14 @i 2911m-[Richard VD.S1rong Wlliom HHom'llton Elmer W. Hocker ,2" INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Otlice 3,022,619 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 3,022,619 VACUUM CHEST BGTTLE STOPPERING APPARATUS Richard V. D. Strong, Meadowbrook, William H. Hamilton, Philadelphia, and Elmer W. Hacker, North Hills, Pa., assignors to F. I. Stokes Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 761,817

6 Claims. (Cl. 53-106) Our invention relates to vacuum treatment of materials and in particular provides a vacuum chamber for re ceiving a number of separate containers in which materials can be treated in the vacuum chamber and which is further adapted to seal such containers while still in the chamber prior to breaking the vacuum.

In freeze-drying of iluent materials and in similar processes requiring treatment of such materials under vacuum, it is in many instances desirable to treat such niaterials in a number of separate containers, Le., bottles, emplaced in a common vacuum chamber. Such bottles desirably also should serve as the containers of the treated materials during subsequent storage and also as the containers in which the treated materials are introduced into commerce. Usually it is important that vacuum treated materials be sealed in their separate containers without further Contact with air as such contact may nullify the purpose of the vacuum treatment. Also, frequently the maintenance of a continued vacuum is desirable in order to retain the aseptic condition of the treated materials. It is obviously advantageous, therefore, to provide an arrangement by which separate containers treated in a vacuum chamber can be sealed after the vacuum treatment while still in the vacuum chamber and prior to breaking vacuum in the chamber.

Itv has been suggested in such operations to employ a uted stopper for each bottle or other container. In such case the fluted stopper during the vacuum operation is positioned loosely over the bottle mouth to expose the contents of the bottle. An alternative arrangement is to provide a stopper support which rests on each individual bottle in the vacuum chamber and holds the stopper in position above the bottle mouth during the vacuum treatment, as for example, is described in co-A pending application of Earl W. Flosdorf et al., Serial Number 729,647, tiled April 21, 1958. In either case after vacuum treatment such stopper arrangements are sealed, while still operating under the original vacuum, by pressing the stopper downwardly into the mouth of the bottle or other container by means of mechanically or pneumatically operated pistons or the like. Heretofore, the arrangements for closing the bottles have relied upon various devices which generally are subject to the disadvantage either that they do not accommodate dilerent sizes of bottles without adjustment or that careful indexing of the sealing apparatus and each bottle is required.

It is a primary object of our invention to provide an arrangement in a vacuum chamber which is capable of sealing bottles containing loosely positioned caps, stoppers and the like, in which one size of bottle can be accommodated in the chamber at one time and another at another time without modification of the sealing apparatus or chamber, while still obtaining good sealing pressure to force the caps or Stoppers employed into the bottles or other containers. It is also an object of our invention to provide such an apparatus without the necessity of employing indexing apparatus or other special arrangement to locate the specific bottles or other containers which are to be sealed.

These and other objects of our invention are essentially obtained by providing a relatively simple construction in a vacuum chamber basically including a vertically reciprocable platen transversely supported in a vacuum chamber spaced above the shelf or other device on which the bottles are to be treated and sealed in the vacuum chamber. The platen carries on its upper surface one or more large, inatable bladder-like devices and is supported by resilient devices acting against rigid structure in the vacuum chamber to bias the platen upwardly and force the bladders upwardly against rigid structure provided in the vacuum chamber above the platen. Thus, when the bottles or other containers are positioned inthe vacuum chamber beneath the platen for vacuum treatment of their contents and with Stoppers or caps loosely emplaced in their mouths or supported above their mouths, the bottles can be sealed subsequent to vacuum treatment of their contents by admitting atmospheric air or other gas pressure into the bladders, causing the latter to ina-te and thereby force the platen downwardly since the rigid structure above the bladders cannot yield. Desirably, the platen is resiliently supported to provide equal distribution of the downward force exerted by the bladders against the resilient suppor-t of the platen and thus, the platen descends uniformly pressing each of the Stoppers or caps into place on the bottles or other containers in which the materials are treated. It will be evident that the employment of such iniatable bladders and of the transversely positioned platen permits substantial downward movement of the platen in the chamber such that diterent bottle heights can be accommodated. Of course, more than one such arrangement can be provided in the chamber at one time, for example, by positioning shelves across the chamber on the upper side of which the bottles are positioned and on the under side of which the platen and bladders are located. In such a multiple arrangement, different sizes of bottles can be accommodated at one time on diierent shelves. It is also desirable to provide vertical guides for the downward movement of the platen to prevent its lateral movement which might upset the bottles or other containers.

For a more complete understanding of the practical application of the principles of our invention, reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a vacuum chamber provided with the construction of our invention and showing the front cover plate of the chamber removed;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section of the arrangement shown in FIGURE l as seen from line 2-2;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the chamber shown in FIGURES l and 2 with the front cover plate open; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing certain parts in section and illustrating in conjunction with FIGURE 3 -the operative movement provided by the apparatus of our invention.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 designates a vacuum chest suitabie for carrying out freeze-drying operations on materials contained in vaccine-type bottles. Vacuum chest 10 is generally rectangular and is constructed of heavy steel plate panels including a top panel 11, a bottom panel 12, side panels 13, 14 and a rear panel 15, which are welded together along their edges to form vacuum chest 10 with an open front closed by heavy gauge steel door 16 mounted along one side on hinges 17, 17 which are secured to the exterior of side panel 14 adjacent its forward edge. When door 16 is closed over the front opening of vacuum chest 10, it is secured in position by a series of swivelmounted bolts 18 which are hingedly mounted about the exterior forward edge margins of side panels 13, 14, top panel 11 and bottom panel 12. Bolts 18 carry threadedly engaged nuts 19 such that bolts 18 can be swung forward over slotted lugs 2% projecting outwardly from the edges of door 16 in alignment with bolts i8. Chest 1.0 is sealed by threading nuts 19 tightly down against lugs 20. Usually a gasket or the like is mounted along the forward edges of chest to provide a hermetic seal between the forward edges of chest 16 where Vthese abut the inner marginal portions of door 15. The closed chest 1% thus defines a chamber 21 which can be evacuated through an overhead outlet fitting ,'22 mounted on top panel il.

Internally chest 13 fis provided with three identical shelves 23, 24, 25 which are spacedone above tno other. Shelves 23, 24, 25 are cach constructed of heavy steel plate and are hollow and each include an inlet fitting 26 and an outlet fitting 27 communicating with their hollow interiors.

Bottom-shelf 23 (see also FIGU E. 3) is positioned horizontally in the lower Vportion of chest 1t) resting on and welded to a pair of shelf support plates 2S, 29. Each support plate 2S, 29 extends from front to back within chest 10, plate 2S abutting the inner face of side panel 13 and plate 29 abutting the inner face of side panel 3i?, and both plates 28, 29 resting on a series of small spacer blocks 30 which in turn are positioned on the upper surface of bottom panel 12 of chest 1t). Plate 28, ywhere it abuts side panel 13, is welded to side panel 13, and similarly, plate 29, where it abuts side panel 14, is welded to side panel 14. Thus, plates 28, 29 extend along each side of the bottom of chest 10. Bottom shelf 23, along its horizontal edges, rests on and overlaps the confronting edges of plates 28, 29 over spacers 30 and is welded to plates 28, 2,9. Thus shelf 23 is firmly and rigidly positioned in the lowerV portion of chest 1@ spaced slightly above bottom panel 12.

Plates 24, 25 vare positioned horizontally near the middle and near the upper portions, respectively, of chest 1t).

Shelf 24 along one lateral edge is welded to the edge of a.

thicker steel block 31 with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of steel block 31, and similarly along the upper surface of its opposite lateral edge is welded to a steel blocl 32, again with the upper surface of shelf 24 flush Ywith the upper surface of block 32. The total transverse measurement across block 31, shelf 24 and block 32 is just slightly less than the interior transverse dimension .0f chest 10.

YThe assembly of blocks 31, 32 and shelf 24 is supported in chest 10 by means of a series of lugs 33 and 34, positioned respectively beneathand above bloclc31 and projecting inwardly from side wall 13 to which they are alixed by weldiru7 or the like, and by ya series of lugs 35 and 36 positioned respectively beneath and above block 32 projecting inwardly from side wall 14 to which they are aflixed. Desirably, thevertical spacing oflugs 33, 34 and the vertical spacing of lugs 35, 36 is slightly greater than the height of blocks 3l, 32, respectively. Thus, in assembling the apparatus,- shelf 24, along with blocks 31 and 32, can be slipped into chest 10 freely. Thereafter, shims 37 or the like can be wedged above lugs 33,

`under blocks 31,- 32, respectively, to firmly secure shelf 24 in position. Desirably, a strap v38 is bolted across the forward pair of lugs 33, 34.V and a strap 39 is bolted across the forward pair of lugs 35,36 further to secure the assembly of shelf 24 and blocks 31 and 32 in position.

Upper shelf 25 is similarly welded along its opposite 'lateral edges to a pair of thicker blocks 40, 41 with the upper surfaces of shelf ZS'and blocks 40, 41 all flush. The assembled unit'of shelf 25 and blocks 40, 41 is then positioned horizontally in the upper portion of chest 1D `by an arrangement of lugs, shims and straps in a manner identical to that by which shelf 24 and blocks 31, 32 were supported in the middle of chest 10.

An inlet manifold pipe 42 extends into chest 1t) in vacuum tight connection through bottom panel 12 in upright position adjacent the forward edge of Vside wall 13, and au outlet manifold pipe 43 extends through bottom panel 12 in vacuum tight connection in upright position Ainto Vchest 10 adjacent the forward edge Aof side wall 14. Inlet manifold pipe 42 within chest 10 is connected by tubing 44 to iniet 25 of shelf 23 and bytubing 45 to inlet connection 26 of shelf 24. No connection between manifold 42 and inlet connection 26 of shelf 25 is provided. Similarly, manifold 43 is connected by tubing 46 and by tubing 47 to outlet connections 27, 27 of shelves 23 and 24, respectively, and n o connection is `providedto outlet connection 27 of shelf 25. Manifolds 42 and 43 are respectively connected to the discharge and Aintake side of an external circulatory system for pump-ing heating or cooling fluids through the hollow interiors of shelves 23 and 24. Y

' insofar as we have described vacuum chest lit above, the construction is typical of equipment commercially employed 'at the present time in freeze-drying operations. The vacuum chest 1t) is modified as follows in accordance with our invention to permit sealing of vaccine bottles having Stoppers loosely placed in or supported above their mouths when the vaccine bottles are placed on shelves 23 and 24.

Thus, in accordance with our invention (referring more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4), blocks'l, 32 retaining shelf V24 and blocks 40, 41 retaining'shelf 25 are each provided at their ends with depending vertical guide rods which are threadedly engaged in the undersurface of blocks 31, 32, 46, 41. More particularly, a pair of guide rods 5t), 5t) depend from the under side of block 31, one guide rod 5t) being located at the forward end of block 31 and one guide rod 5G being located at the rear end'of block 31. Similarly, a pair of guide rods 51, 51 depend, one from the forward end and one from the rear end of block 32; a pair of guiderods 52, 52 depend from block Vnate a short distance above bottom shelf 23 and support plates 23, 29. Similarly, guide rods 52, 52, 53, 53 are located adjacent the four corners of shelf 25vand terminate a short distance above blocks 31, 32. Each plate 28, 29 and each block 31,V 32 is recessed in its upper surface at its forward and rear ends in alignment with the guide rods above such plates and blocks, and Vreceives the lower ends of coil springs, the upper ends of which extend slidingly over the lower Vends of the associated guide rods. Thus, a pair of coil springs 54, .54 are retained on guide rods 50, 50; a pair of coil springs 55,-55 are retained on guide rods 51, 51; a pair of coil springs 56, 56 are rctained on guide rods 52, 52; and a pair of coil springs 57, 57 are retained on guide rods 53, 53.

A platen 58, which is apertured at each of its four corners, is slidingly received through such apertures on guide rods 50, 50, 51, 51 with the under surface of platen 58 resting on the upper ends of coil springs 54, 54, 55, 55 which urge platen 58 upwardly into abutting contact along its lateral edges with the under surface of blocks 311, 32. Similarly, a platen 59, also apertured at each of its four corners,'is slidingly received at each aperture on guide rods 52, 52, 53, 53 with its under surface resting on the upper ends of coil springs 56, 56, 57, 57, which urge platen 59 upwardly into abutting contact with the under surfaces of blocks 31, 32.

The upper side of platen 58 carries eight spaced posts 60 four of which are disposed in a line along the forward portion of platen 58 and four of which are disposed in a line along the rear portion of platen 58. Two forward posts 60 and two rear posts adjacent the right side of chest 10 (as seen in the drawing) support a panel 61 which is spaced over platen 58 beneath shelf 24 and which is firmly secured in position by suitable screws 62 extending from the under side of platen 58 through posts 60 into threaded engagement with panel 61; Similarly, the remaining four posts, located to the left side of chest 10, support a second panel 63 which is spaced over platen 58 and beneath shelf 24 adjacent panel 61. Panel 63 is similarly rmly secured in position by means of screws 64 which extend from the under side of platen 58 through posts 60 into threaded engagement with panel 63.

Panels 61, 63 each carry a flexible bladder 64, 65, respectively, stretched across the upper side of its associated panel 61, 63. Bladders 64, 65 along their edges are bent about and tucked under the edges of their associated panels 61, 63 and are sealed to the under sides of such panels. Suitably, bladders 64, 65 are constructed of tiexible, elastomeric material such Aas neoprene, and the 4sealing contact of their positions extending under panels 61, 63 is sufficient to prevent any communication between the interior of vacuum chamber 21 and the uusealed area of contact between the upper surfaces of panels 61, 63 and the under surfaces of the associated bladders 64, 65. Centrally, panel 61 is apertured and connected on its under side to a suitable fitting 66 having two outlets. Similarly, panel 63 is apertured and connected on its under side to a iitting 67 which is provided with a single outlet. A pipe connection 68 positioned above platen 58 beneath panels 61, 63 connects the single outlet of -tting 67 and one of the outlets of tting 66. The other outlet of tting 66'is connected to a pipe 69 which extends toward side panel 14 of chest 10 up to the edge of platen `58 between guide rods 51, 51. Pipe 69 at this point terminates with an elbow 70 which` is connected to one end of a iiexible hose 71 which leads forwardly approximately parallel to side panel 14 around the adjacent lateral edge of platen 58. An upright manifold pipe 72 passing through bottom panel 12 in vacuum tight connection extends into chest 10 in upright position adjacent the forward edge of side Wall 14 immediately behind manifold 43 and carries a tting 73 which is connected to the other end of flexible hose 71, thus communicating the spaces enclosed between panels 61, 63 and their associated bladders 64, 65 with the exterior end of manifold 72. Manifold l72 isv connected at its exterior end for connection either to' the atmosphere or to a vacuum line.

Platen 59, in the same manner as platen 58, carries on its upper surface a pair of panels 75, 76, with which are associated, respectively, a pair of bladders 77, 78. Panels 75, 76 'and bladders 77, 78, which are in all respects identical to panels 61, 63 and bladders 64, 65, are arranged also in identical manner for connection of the spaces er1- closed between them to a flexible conduit generally designated by the reference numeral 79, which leads to manifold 72. v

lt should be pointed out that the panel-bladder combinations typified by panel 61 and bladder 64 are commercially available devices which are normally used as bottom or side panels in bins orvthe like with internal connection to a pulsating air source in order to permit the bladder to expand away from the panel in a pulsating manner and assist in shaking pulverant material in the lbin towards its bottom.

From the preceding description of the drawings, it will be apparent that vacuum chest 10 is designed to receive on shelves 23, 24 a number of vaccine-type bottles B, or their equivalent, which prior to being placed in the chest customarily are placed on a tray T for convenience in handling. Bottles B, after `iilling them with the required quantity of material to be treated, for example, orange juice, plasma or the like, are then provided with uted Stoppers S or, alternatively, some other loose-fitting closure device which can subsequently be pressed to a tight it as, for example, shown in the afore-noted copending application of Earl W. Flosdorf 'et al. Stoppers S in any event are only loosely received in the mouths of bottles B to leave the contents of bottles B exposed. Trays T lcontaining bottles B and loose-fitting Stoppers S are then placed on shelves 23, 24, and chest 10 is closed by closing door 16 and tightening down nuts 19 against slotted lugs 20.

Exhaust litting 22 is connected to a vacuum line, and

manifold 72 is connected to the same line to evacuate both chamber 21 and the interior of bladders 64, 65 to the required high vacuum for a freeze-drying operation. The evacuating apparatus is then placed in operation. At the same time inlet manifold 42 and outlet manifold 43 are connected to pumping apparatus for passing a low temperature coolant through the hollow interiors of shelves 23, 24, which serves to lower thetemperature lof the contents of bottles B.

Thereafter, a typical freeze-drying operation is carried out to remove all of the moisture content of the materials treated in bottles B, subsequently supplying heating fluids through inlet and outlet fittings 42, 43 in a conventional manner, while maintaining high vacuum in chamber 2l.

When the freeze-drying operation has been completed and it is desired to push Stoppers S into bottles B to seal the treated contents of bottles B, manifold 72 is disconnected from vacuum, and atmospheric air or gas at a controlled pressure is allowed to enter. It will be noted that during the vacuum treatment of the materials in bottles B, because high vacuum maintained in chamber 21 was also connected to manifold 72, the resilient biasing of springs 50, 50, 51, 51 on platen 58 and the resilient biasing of springs 52, 52, 53, 53 cn platen 59 kept platens 58, 59 in their upper positions above the tops of loosely stoppered bottles B shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 since no pressure diiereutial existed between the interior of the panel-bladder combinations and vacuum chamber 21. When, however, manifold 72 is connected to atmospheric air, air entering through manifold 72 and through the various pipes and other connections to the interiors of the panel-bladder combinations causes bladders 64, 65, 75, 76 to inate, pushing both against platen 58 and shelf 24 in the case of bladders 64, 65 (see FIGURE 4) and platen 59 and shelf 25 in the case of bladders 75, 76. The pressure of the air within the bladders thus causes platens 58, 59 to descend on their various associated guide rods, since shelves 24, 25 are rigidly supported andwill not yield. The biasing of the various springs associated with platens 58, 59, however, plus the reasonably uniform pressures exerted by the variousbladders, insures that the descents of platens 58, 59,will occur while the platens remain level, i.e., in horizontal position. As platens 58, 59 descend, they first make contact with the upper portions of Stoppers S aud then force Stoppers S down fully into the mouths of bottles B, stoppering bottles E and sealing their interiors with the same high vacuum maintained on the treated materials as before.

Thereafter, the vacuum connection to tting 22 is broken, allowing air to enter chamber 21. As the air pressure in chamber 21 approaches that of the atmosphere, thus equalling the pressure of air within the bladders, the bladders collapse, raising platens 58 and 59 under the biasing of their associated coil springs and clearing platens 58 and 59 from stoppered bottles B (al ternatively, manifold 72 could iirst have been reconnected to a vacuum line to raise platens 58, 59). When the vacuum has been completely broken within chamber 21, nuts 19 are loosened to permit bolts 18 to swing away from lugs 20, and door 16 is opened to remove trays T and stoppered bottles B.

We claim:

l. In a vacuum chest structure enclosing a chamber, means for evacuating said chamber, fixed means for supporting containers in said chamber, the improvement which includes a platen transversely positioned in said chamber mounted for vertical reciprocation therein spaced above said support means, resilient means in said chamber biasing said platen upwardly away from said support means, means defining a rigid surface on the upper side of said platen, a flexible bladder positioned over said surface and beneath a portion of the structure of said chest, means retaining the edges of said bladder in sealing contact with said rigid surface thereby forming an enclosure between said bladder and said rigid surface, means for 7 admitting gas pressure into said enclosure, means for evacuating said enclosure, whereby when said means for evacuating said bladder is connected thereto said bladder 'remains deilated and said platen is retained in an upper position by the biasing of said resilient means, and whereby when said means for admitted gas pressure to said enclosure is connected thereto said bladder inilates between said portion Vof said chest structure thereabove and said rigid surface, Yforcing'said platen downwardly against the n biasing ot said resilient means to a lower position, said Yplaten being rectangular, said resilient means including four vertically positioned coil springs mounted at their lower ends on a portion of the chest structure beneath Vsurface and V:beneath a portion of the structure of said chest, means retaining the edges of said bladder in sealing contact with said rigid surface thereby forming an en'. closure between said bladder and said surface, Vsaid platen being rectangular and provided with an aperture adjacent each corner thereof, guide means comprising four guide rods depending Vfrom the upper portion of the chest structure, said guide rods extending through said apertures, means for evacuating said enclosure, means for ad'- mittingY gas pressure into said enclosure, whereby when said means for evacuating said enclosure is connected thereto said 'bladder remains ldeflated and said platen is Yretained in an upper position by the biasing of said re- Vsilient means, and whereby when said means for admitting gas pressure to saidrenclosure is connected thereto said bladder in ates between said portion of said chest structure thereabove and saidplaten, forcing said platen downwardly against the biasing 4of said resilient means to a lower position.

3. In a vacuum chest structure comprising a housingV Ydefining a chamber therein, means for evacuating said chamber, a support means within said chamber for supporting containers, a platen transversely positioned .in said chamber and mounted for vertical reciprocation toward and away from said support means, said platen said rigid surface thereby forming an enclosure between said bladder and saidv surface, means for evacuating said enclosure, means for admitting -gas pressure into said enclosure, whereby when said means for evacuating said enclosure'is connected thereto said bladder remains deilated and said platen is retainedin an upper position by the biasing of said resilient means, and whereby when said means for admitting -gas pressureto said enclosure i's connected thereto said bladder inflates between said portion of said housing thereabove and said rigid surface, forcing said platen downwardly against the biasing of 'said resilient means to a lowerposition.

4. A vacuum chest structure comprising a housing de- Ylining a chamber therein, a support means within said chamber for supporting containers in said chamber, Va

. platen transversely positioned in said chamben'said platen being of substantially the same dimensions as said support means, means defining a rigid surface on the upper side of said platen, resilient means in said chamber biasing said platen away from said support means, a exible bladder positioned over said rigid surface and beneath a portion of the structure of said housing, means securing the free edges of said bladder in sealing contact with being of substantially the same dimensions as said support means, said platen being substantially rectangular, guide rods extending through apertures in said platen for guiding said platen for reciprocation toward and away yfrom said support means, resilient means in said chamber biasing said platen away fromV said support means, a flexible bladder means positioned beneath a portion of Ysaid housing and above said platen, saidv flexible bladder means being in abutting contact with a rigid portion of y'said platen, means Vfor evacuating said ilexible bladder means, means for admitting gas pressure into saidY dexible bladder means, said exible bladder means being dedated and said piaten being retained in a rst position remote lfrom said support means and said bladder means being fdeated when said means for evacuating said bladder means is connected thereto, and said platen being forced -to a` second position against the bias of said resilient means by said bladder means when said means for admitting gas pressure to said bladder means is connected thereto, with said platen being closer to said support means in the second position thereof .than in the rst ,position thereof.` Y, Y

5. The improvement according to claim 2, in which said resilient means includes four coil springs bearing attheir lower ends against chest structure beneath said platenand extending upwardly boutsaid guiderods bearing against said platen about said apertures.

6.r The improvement according to claim 5 inwhich said .chest structure beneath said platen is a shelf axed in said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 

